Uploads from Al JC, tagged insect, with geodata

caterpillar Macrothylacia rubi

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 04:23:09 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Found at Loch Arklet any ID would be appreciated. Was thinking fox moth caterpillar Macrothylacia rubi.

Summer has arrived

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 03:11:24 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

A solitary bee enjoying the sunshine.

Busy insects

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 03:37:52 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Very few wild flowers around now for these little ones to visit.

Bibio varipes

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:05:19 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Bibio varipes - Hawthorn Fly - Heath and moorland species. I think, just may be B. Marci there are 18 uk species of Bibio.

Adult flies only live for about a week so they spend most of their lives in the larval stage. After mating females lay their eggs in the soil and die shortly afterwards.

The larvae feed and grow over the autumn and winter before emerging as adults the following spring.

These flies are common during May and June when adult males form mating swarms to attract females. They fly slowly in an up-and-down dancing pattern at about head height with their long back legs hanging down. The females can often be found sitting on vegetation near swarms of males.

Bibio viperes can be found around heath and moorland, this one was on a path amongst heather, up a hillside.

Adult flies are thought to be important pollinators.

Enoplognatha ovata

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 02:30:23 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Can be found in hedgerows, grassland, gardens and rides May through to October.

The comb-footed spider has three colour variations. The abdomen can be either a pale creamy-green colour, it can have two red stripes, or it can have one thick red stripe. The black spots on both sides of the abdomen are present in all three forms.

The female produces a bluish egg sac which is sometimes concealed in a rolled up leaf. Playing dead, when I went to put it on the grass it took off lol.

red necked footman

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 01:20:39 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

another shot of this little guy, taken at Mossmorran.

Patience

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:38:47 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus. Waited a little and then caught one lol Cullaloe.

enjoying the sunshine

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 01:43:20 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Blue damselfly on the newly laid path at Cullaloe.

Spotted dead-nettle Lamium maculatum (also known as Spotted Henbit and Purple Dragon)

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 03:07:59 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Lamium maculatum (also known as Spotted Deadnettle, Spotted Henbit and Purple Dragon)

Purple dead-nettle (lamium purpureum same family) has some uses in traditional medicine, including for use cleaning wounds and treating diarrhea. It was once thought that the leaves of the plant might offer a cure for some types of tuberculosis. The leaves of the plant are sometimes used in salads or soups.

Many people find the odor of deadnettle unpleasant. The plant is in the same scientific family as mint. Bees, birds, and butterflies are attracted to the flowers of the deadnettle because of the copious amount of nectar and pollen they produce.

Large Red Damselfly

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:17:30 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Pyrrhosoma nymphula male. It is easy to tell the large red from the small red as it has black legs and a stripey thorax. The female has more black and a line down the middle of the abdomen. Haven't seen as many this year.

red-necked footman

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 01:36:51 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis found in Mossmorran.

Primarily a woodland species, which is distributed locally in the south and west of England and Wales, and parts of Ireland,and possibly as a migrant in Scotland. In most in guides it is given as N&C Europe except Scotland so it must be here on its holidays.

Feeds on lichens and algae growing on tree-trunks. Another wish I had a macro lens shot lol.

Resting

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 03:18:38 -0800

Al JC posted a photo:

hoverfly resting on a leaf.

red damselfly

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:45:55 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Pyrrhosoma nymphula archive shot

Lunch

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:21:26 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Ladybird. Another one of those 'wish I had a macro lens' shots. lol best I could get, it was having a banquet.

Hard work

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 01:00:08 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

This cranefly was on the otherside of a ditch, I wondered why it was walking rather than flying then saw its red head (it was far away). I took a shot as I hadn't seen one with a red head before, only when I downloaded it onto the screen did I realise it was pushing a raspberry!!! I must phone the opticians.

Now if I can just get this leg up there.....

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:53:11 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Hoverfly I think, trying to brave the wind.

Green Lacewing Chrysopa perla

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:24:04 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Thanks to Barry and Afterforty for the ID.

soldier beetles

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:51:21 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Four spotted chaser Libellula quadrimaculata (dragonfly)

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 01:05:50 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Identifiable by the four spots on the wing. Mossmorran, Cowdenbeath. My first outing since I fell, still hobbling but well worth it. This dragonfly landed on the other side of a ditch.

a Grypocoris stysi

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:19:15 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

a plant bug, pretty little thing. Cowdenbeath community woodland.